Purpose This paper aims to provide details of recent developments in robotic tactile sensing. Design/methodology/approach Following a short introduction, this paper first provides an overview of tactile sensing effects and technologies. It then discusses recent developments in tactile sensing...

Purpose – This article aims to discuss the potential of robots to assist the disabled and the elderly and to highlight some of the associated ethical issues. Design/methodology/approach – Following an introduction, this considers robotic wheelchairs and exoskeletons, companion robots,...

Purpose – This paper aims to provide details of a major new European robotic research programme and of a recent survey concerning the attitudes of Europeans to robotic technology. Design/methodology/approach – Following an introduction, this paper briefly summarises Europe’s position...

Purpose – The purpose of this article is to illustrate how sensors impart perceptive capabilities to robots. This is the second part of a two-part article. This second part considers positional awareness and sensing in the external environment, notably but not exclusively by autonomous, mobile...

Purpose This paper aims to illustrate how the growth in e-commerce has catalysed innovative developments in robots for use in warehouses. Design/methodology/approach Following a brief introduction to e-commerce and warehouse robots, this first paper discusses Amazon’s involvement with robotic...

Purpose This paper aims to provide a technical insight into a selection of robotic people detection technologies and applications. Design/methodology/approach Following an introduction, this paper first discusses people-sensing technologies which seek to extend the capabilities of human-robot...

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to provide an insight into the present-day state of bin picking by considering research, technology, products and applications. Design/methodology/approach Following a short introduction, this first provides examples of recent bin picking research. It then...

Purpose – This article aims to provide details of recent robotic exoskeleton developments and applications. Design/methodology/approach – Following an introduction, this article first considers some of the technological issues associated with an exoskeleton design. It then discusses military...

Purpose This paper aims to provide an insight into China’s rapidly developing robot industry. Design/methodology/approach Following a short introduction, this paper first provides a market perspective and then identifies the key user industries and gives examples of applications. The robot...

Purpose – This article aims to describe euRathlon 2013, the first competitive event in a three-year, EU-funded programme for autonomous robots, which was held in Germany in September 2013. Design/methodology/approach – Following an introduction, this describes the teams and their robots, the...